After 20 Years, Leaders of Ethiopia and Eritrea Meet

For the first time in nearly 20 years, the leaders of Ethiopia and Eritrea met face to face on Sunday, in a meeting that could end the hostility between the two neighboring countries.

Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed traveled to the Eritrean capital Asmara, where he was welcomed by President Isaias Afwerki. This historic visit is the first since the end of the war that claimed tens of thousands of lives between 1998 and 2000.

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Tense relations continued after Ethiopia refused to accept a peace agreement, which would mean surrendering control over key positions along the border.

The unprecedented warming of diplomatic relations occurred in June when Ethiopia, under its new reformist leader, announced that it would fully accept the provisions of the 2000 peace agreement.

The head of the Ethiopian Prime Minister’s office, Fitsum Arega, wrote on Twitter that the purpose of the visit is “to further deepen efforts to achieve lasting peace between the peoples of Ethiopia and Eritrea.”

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“Our two countries share a history and are connected like no other,” he wrote. “Now we can overcome two decades of mistrust and move in a new direction.”

The two leaders embraced at the airport before heading for talks at the presidential palace.

Ethiopian and Eritrean flags are flying in the streets of Asmara, and the televisions of both countries announced that they would broadcast all events live.

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Eritrea was part of Ethiopia until 1993 when it declared independence following a referendum.